Are there laws regulating how long a train can block an intersection?

Question

On my way to work I was stopped by two trains. The first one blocked at least two, if not three major intersections and then stopped to allow a second train with over 200 cars through. I watched my clock--I got to the intersection at 8:09 and do not know how long the first train was there. I did not get through the intersection (I was car 2) until 8:22. All I could think was what if an ambulance needed to get through? Are there laws prohibiting this? It's a regular occurrence at this intersection with super long trains... and it's always during rush hour!

Answer 1

Personally, I don't know of any trainmen who like to block crossings or have an attitude that they can block one as long as they want. We do clear the crossings as soon as possible on the railroad where I work. And yes, the law states 10 minutes maximum for blocking. But I don't know where you're at or the railroad.



I have never seen a 200 car train, but then again I have had a sheltered life. There is a situation I have to contend with twice a week where I have to take a train to railroad junction owned by two separate lines. I often have to stop at this junction to verbally relinquish our track authority to a Dispatcher via radio. Then contact a second Dispatcher to get authority to use the tracks of the second line. Unfortunately this railroad junction is also the location for a highway junction. These Dispatchers understand that a fast response on the radio is very important because they also understand that highways are being blocked. About 90 percent of the time this transition from one railroad to the other goes very smooth and the amount of time auto traffic is blocked is kept to a minimum. (These 2 railroads were in place 30 years before there were autos, but that's irrelevant now.) However, Dispatchers get busy too and he may have communications going on with trains stacked up some place else. If my stopped train is approaching the 10 minute mark, we have to balance out the practicalities at the time. On a 107 car train, it will take the Brakeman about 10 minutes to walk back to the crossing to perform the steps required to cut the train and clear the crossing. Once we have our authority and it is safe to proceed on the second railroad, the Brakeman can guide the movement to recouple the train and walk up again. But that means the Brakeman has been on the ground 20 minutes. So, in the beginning, as a train crew do we gamble that we can get moving in 2,10, or 15 minutes or block traffic more by having a Brakeman on the ground for 20. It's hard to know, and we've done it both ways.



I sympathize with you and your inconvenience, but 95 percent of the time, how long a crossing is blocked is not up to the train crew. This response is intended to give some insight - not come up with a solution. I don't know what a solution would be.

Answer 2

1. In California, state law says that a train may block a crossing for no more than ten minutes. If it is not possible to move the entire train and law officers are on the scene, they must be consulted as to which crossing should be "cut" (that is when you leave one piece of your train on one side of the crossing and pull or shove the rest of the train to clear on the opposite side) so that the most traffic can be handled. It is their call.



2. The railroad has been around for a long time where I live. Several small towns are bisected by the tracks. In each, fire department trucks are maintained in separate fire houses on both sides of the rails, including the EMTs. A little foresight will go a long way. Perhaps you should contact any city council members that may be involved, thence to the county board of supervisors. If there is still no action -- next stop, your state firefighting agency. In Ca that is the CDF. And on you go to the federal level... as far as needed. Now that you know what to do, do it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.



3. 200 car trains are ridiculous at any time. (The most I ever handled were 130 car reefer drags over the Sierras). If you want to get involved here, follow the same chain, only forget the municipal and and county levels and substitute (offending railroad's name here) as a starting point [do not expect anything to change at the corporate level, however]. At the Federal level we can't buy legislation, but (offending railroad's name here) sure as hell can. [Here is a tip. The trains that continually block the crossings have troubles moving, right? Wanna know why? 200 cars pretty much says it all, no?] So here, you probably should just forget everything written after the first sentence of this paragraph.



4. Follow through on the emergency vehicle hazard. It'll be the only thing you have a shot at achieving.







Addendum: Horsepower per ton? What is that? I have heard of it of course, but I was under the impression that was a function of weight, not length. I mean, 200 empties may tip the scales somewhere between ten or eleven thousand tons on the very high end, which on level ground is easy work for a three unit road engine with no need of additional horsepower. So now I'm confused. Please explain. Then we can address the air problems associated with 200 car trains (in actuality, during winter months air can get problematic for trains as little 5600 feet and up in length, which isn't any where the length of 200 cars or even those 130 car reefer drags), air problems which are in fact a function of length as well as leakage, ambient temperature and altitude, if I understand how the air works,,,



But that would have to be another question asked, malwill, and while I always endeavor to be accurate, I sure as shootin' ain't always right.



And I have two ex-wives to PROVE that...

Answer 3

Railroads have rules to keep them from blocking the crossing for more than 10 minutes. Sometimes this is not preventable. Sounds like you were where there was a double main track. That situations is not usually typical. As for the guy who commented about 200 car trains being ridiculous and was the reason for the slow movement this was totally inaccurate. Trains having excessive cars meaning more tonnage have extra locomotives added to maintain a certain horsepower per ton. In most cases local municipalities do have ordinances preventing such incidents but is hard to enforce considering the rails were laid way before any grade crossing were installed. The railroad does have the right of way but avoids blocking crossings at all cost. In certain cases such as grade crossing accidents there is not breaking a train apart due to the fact that the investigation must be conducted from the point of impact to the point the train came to a stop. For these reasons this would not be allowed. Emergency personel usually have districts on each side of the tracks so that they are not stuck on one side when there is an emergency on the other. Never seen a town yet that has a firehouse on one side of the tracks and not the other. Same way with ambulances since they are mobile most of the time where fire rescue does not transport.

Answer 4

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There are laws about how long trains can block intersections. They can't block major intersections for more than ten minutes during rush periods or twenty minutes any other time. The problem is that the train companies are huge and they pay off the people who would prosecute them. Nobody cares about you because you're not rich enough to hire a team of lawyers tough enough to stop them. Thank your local politician next time the train takes 45 minutes to get out of your way.

Answer 5

Train Laws

Answer 6

Sounds like yur from downriver with your question about the trains. Our area had been fighting for years to have a bridge built because trains block 2 major intersections for 30-60 min daily due to it being near the transfer station. You have to go quite a ways out of your way to get around, of and did I mention that the train blocks the way to the closest hospital, also forcing detours or ems to take people top further hospitals for care?



You can't fight the railroads. You won't win. Decades of petitioning hasn't gotten used very far since the state doesn't see it much as a priority to allot us the money to fix the issue.

Answer 7

In fact, there are local ordinances in many, if not most, cities restricting the time period for which a train may occupy a crossing that interferes with street traffic. There are many exceptions and special conditions attached to these laws, and they are rarely enforced. However, most city governments where rail traffic is heavy have made arrangements. If you will check it out, you should find that every 4th or 5th crossing along the railroad track is a "grade separation" crossing. The street goes over or under the railroad, so that traffic can continue to flow.



In most states this is required by state law, and many state transportation departments have safety programs underway to increase the number of "grade separations" so as to reduce these problems and improve safety.



This, of course, answers your question about emergency vehicles. They know which streets to take so they can pass over or under the railroad line.

Answer 8

Geez. I was just stuck for over an hour by a stopped train and finally found a different route and was late for work by an hour and a half. Someone drove up needing to get to the hospital and it was the only route because the closest route was closed off due to high water. Twenty minutes is nothing really.

Answer 9

In our neighboring city, it was a problem. No overpasses or underpasses. The city regularly fined the RR if they blocked roads too long and didn't "break" the train and allow roads to be passable. Call your local police and report them. they will be the ones who would ticket the RR engineer for impeding traffic. good luck.

Answer 10

The land that the tracks are on is private land. It was bought by the rail company so that the rails could be laid on. That right of way belongs to the train co. like streets and highways belong to the local goverment.

Answer 11

We've had 210+ years to figure out the traffic logistics to get over/under train tracks and still screw it up. There's nothing you can do about it but complain to the city council or whatever. LEO and most everyone else with their head buried in the sand won't think anything's wrong or do anything about it because they accept it as being normal. 37 states plus D.C. have laws restricting the time a train can block an intersection... that means trains can "legally" block an intersection for an indefinite amount of time in 13 states!

Answer 12

It would depend on your state county and city where you live. Some have laws governing this and some do not. Contact your city attorney or county commissioner, or state representative

Answer 13

they don't call the land the tracks are on a "Right of Way" for nothing. the train can stay there as long as it has to. the world's economy shouldn't stop just because you had to wait a few minutes. On some trains, such ones carrying perishable food, the needs of the goods brings the timing down to minutes or seconds. The Canadian Pacific Railway once had special trains on their timetables that carried raw silk, so important prior to the invention of nylon, that in 1939 a train carrying the royal family themselves was put off onto a siding so the silk train could go by.



Don't like waiting, simple answer, don't go that way.



(note, I didn't say want, i said has to, big difference, one means choice, the other is involuntary)

Answer 14

Our rules say when practical crossings should not be blocked longer than 10 minutes.Sometimes it's beyond our control though.We do everything we can can clear them as soon as possible.

James your wrong we can't just stay there as long as we want.

Answer 15

No laws at all.all trains are on a time schedule.They do so that 2 trains don't wind up on the same track going in opposite directions,and to prevent accidents.as far as the train blocking the roadway,I would get to that crossing at least 10 mins before the train gets there.

Answer 16

Depends on where you live. Obviously not. Try to determine if they are timed at certain regular times everyday. Avoid the time and/or intersection.